Do lawn moles carry disease?

A:

Quick Answer

Moles may potentially carry diseases or parasites, but these rarely pose a risk to humans or pets, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife notes. The Virginia Tech Center for Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution is unaware of any serious diseases that can be transferred from moles to humans.

If a dead mole is encountered, WDFW recommends using a plastic bag or gloves to pick it up. It is best to avoid touching the mole as much as possible as this reduces the risk of tick, flea and disease transmission.

Although moles may not pose a health risk, their digging and tunneling can cause severe damage to lawns and gardens.